THE HISTORY OF ZHANGIR KHAN WEST KAZAKHSTAN AGRARIAN - TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

The history of the university development and the history of higher agroengineering education in the region reflects all significant stages of the development of the agrarian and industrial sectors of Western Kazakhstan. There was an urgent need for staffing in agricultural area of five regions in Western Kazakhstan during the time of intensive development of virgin and fallow lands. The need for higher educated specialists in the early 60-s for the Ural region was satisfied only by 30% and in other regions by 20%. That is why West Kazakhstan Agricultural Institute was opened according to the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR from 19.07.1963. No. 571.

The institute started its activity in adapted buildings in three faculties: agroeconomic, veterinary, mechanization of agriculture and 11 departments involving 302 students to the first course full-time education. Among of this students, there were persons who already had experience in production, predominately former collective farmers and state farmers. Because of teachers’ lack the veterinary faculty was transformed into a zootechnical faculty in 1964 and in 1966 an agronomical faculty was opened separately from the agricultural economics faculty. The Institute gradually expanded becoming a major center of higher agricultural education and science. Constructions during 1967 and 1986, creation of a research and development sector, opening of a military department, teachers’ training faculty, veterinary faculty, the formation of a material and technical and educational and methodological base - all these achievements are contributions of the first generation of university leaders, staff and teachers in the history of the university.

An important event in the history of the institute was building ofStudents Complex with educational buildings, dormitories, dwellings and auxiliary infrastructure (library, gym, cafeteria, veterinary clinic, and others) in 1975.

In 1996 by the decision of the Ministers Cabinet of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 573 from 7 May the Institute taking into account the significant contribution to the social and economic development of the region, professional level and material base of the institute it was reorganized into West Kazakhstan Agrarian University.

By the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 236 from February 14, 2000, West Kazakhstan Agrarian University became a member of the West Kazakhstan State University. On November 5, 2002 according to the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 1172 the university was reorganized into West Kazakhstan Agrarian-Technical University by separation from West Kazakhstan State University and on May 30, 2003 it was given the name of Zhangir Khan, an outstanding statesman, educator and reformer of the 19th century.

- On April 28, 2012 RSBE Zhangir khan WKATU is reorganized into RSE on REU Zhangir khan WKATU (Resolution of the Government of RK No. 544); 14 April, 2015 it is renamed into RSE on REU Zhangir khan WKATU of the MoA RK (Resolution of the Government of RK No. 226); On March 22, 2016 RSE on the REM "Zhangir khan West Kazakhstan agrarian-technical university" reorganized by transformation into Non-profit JSC "Zhangir khan West Kazakhstan agrarian-technical university" (Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan No.659).

An invaluable contribution to the development of the university at different stages of activity was done by its rectors: Alexander Dzerzhinsky, Valentin Ikonnikov, Boris Shah, Nikolai Shramko, Sergei Dzhubayev, Bazar Damitov and Kazybay Bozymov. All these talented organizers and real leaders in the system of the higher school of that time left a noticeable mark in university history and ensured university progressive development. Alexander YakovlevichDzerzhinsky is the first rector of the Institute who organize and maintained preparation of classrooms, departments and the selected teachers staff. ValentinKonstantinovichIkonnikov stayed in our memory as the leader who started the Student

Campus construction. Thanks to the efforts of Boris PetrovichShah - a major organizer of agrarian education and science of Kazakhstan. During his university managing the construction of Student Campus (1975 – 1985) has been completed. There were formed modern scientific and pedagogical potential of the university. Later he was rector of Agricultural Institute. Despite of the difficulties of that time and the reduction of state funding for education and science. Nikolai Vasilyevich and Sergey Shugayevich significantly strengthened the university's connections with Processing Companies preserved the scientific potential and traditions created by their predecessors. Bazar Kabdoshevich is a major organizer and reformer of high school (former Vice Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan), actively introduced modern principles of strategic planning and monitoring of the quality of education, innovative educational technologies.

Today Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan agrarian technical university is one of the largest state educational and scientific center in the country. It is the only university in the region designed to fulfill its intellectual mission of driving the sustainable development of the innovative economy of Western Kazakhstan providing human and scientific resources of the new generation.

For the formation of an effective quality management system for educational services oriented to the consumer, the quality management and environmental management systems certified according to ISO standards have been functioning successfully since 2004. Taking into account the policy of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the tendencies of the development of higher agricultural and technical education in various countries, as well as on the basis of the principles of SWOT analysis, benchmarking, self-assessment of the state and problems of personnel training, the University developed and implemented the Strategic Development Plan of Zhangir Khan WKATU for 2016-2020.

Scientists of the University introduced a number of scientific developments: an Ankata enlarged and shagataykomolous intra-breed types of Kazakh white-headed breed were created; the Akjaik breed of crossbred sheep and intra-breed types of Kushum breed of horses are improved; for the creation of a new karakul breed Academician of NAS RK UkbaevKh.I. In 2005 he was awarded the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On December 3, 2015, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, the State Award in Science and Technology named after Al-Farabi for a cycle of works on the subject "Development of Scientific and Technical Bases and Creation of Infrastructure of Sturgeon Breeding in Kazakhstan" was awarded to the chairman of the board - rector of Non profit JSC "Zhamgir khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian Technical University", to Candidate of Biology, the associated professor N. Кh. Sergaliyev. Biochemicals and diagnosticums have been introduced for some infectious diseases of agricultural animals. The republic also acquired soil-meliorative studies, the zonal structure of sown areas and the system of crop rotation, the resource-saving tillage systems, adaptive technologies for cultivation of field crops, vegetables and potatoes, integrated plant protection, conservation techniques and reproduction of soil fertility.

In 2007 the biotechnology laboratory of the engineering profile was opened for 200 million tenge, a license was received by the MEP for environmental design. Over the past 5 years 4 doctoral, 38 candidate and 546 master's theses have been protected. In the competition for the international scholarship "Bolashak" 15 students received a grant for studies in foreign universities.

Our university is an active participant in the innovation activity of "Algorithm" regional industrial park and of the industry cluster "Oil and Gas Engineering". On the educational and experimental basis, research was carried out on the technology of intensive and saving stocks of cereals and growing vegetables.

In recent years, creative links have been established with leading universities and scientific centers of Russia K.A. Timiryazev (MAAA, I.M. Gubkin Russian State University Orenburg State Agrarian University, Saratov Social and Economic University, Samara Agricultural Academy, St. Petersburg State Agrarian University, North-Caucasian Federal University, Institute of the Steppes of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino State Natural Science Institute), Germany (Humboldt University), USA (Texas Agrotechnical University), Israel (MASHAV Consulting Center), China (North-West Scientific and Technical University of Agriculture and Forestry), Czech Republic (Czech Agrotechnical University in Prague), etc. On November 27, 2016, within a trip of agricultural experts and heads of agrotechnical universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan to People's Republic of China, a Memorandum of Understamding was signed between the Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian Technical University and the Northwestern Scientific and Technical University of Agriculture and Forestry. University - participant of the international project: Tempus "Distribution of System of Ensuring Quality of education at the Kazakhstan universities"; ERASMUS + "Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development".

The educational process is aimed at the formation of a specialist and a multicultural personality, a citizen and a patriot of the country. The emphasis is on the development of student government and the principle of "peer to peer". Students' dean's offices, student councils of Student's House No. 1, dormitories No. 1, 2, 3, “Zaman” youth public association, “Rukh” debating center, “Sunkar” sports clubs, “Fatima” girls club, “Naryn sazy” folklore ensemble , military-patriotic club "Zhauynger", club of young writers "Zhas Kalam", "Erke-Nur" dancing ensemble, the league of KVN.

There is a Council of Veterans, one of whose functions is conducting conversations on various educational topics with students, including those subject to the influence of various religious movements at the University.

In recent years, landscape design of the campus has been significantly improved by planting and care of seedlings of valuable cultural species, flower beds and lawns over an area of 3,000 square meters in the framework of national idea "Zhasyl El", and on May 11, 2005, the

"Alley of virgin lands pioneer" was opened with participation of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, where he personally planted oak seedlings.

KVN team "GRANT" repeatedly became an owner of the cups of the Republican and city scales. The team acted in such television projects as "Zhaydarman", became popular among the youth of WKR and far beyond its borders.

The main component of the educational work of the department is mass sports and health work, which is conducted by the sports club "Sunkar" in conjunction with teachers of the department. Traditional events are: the international handball tournament in Samara, Orenburg, mini-football, the international Olympics "Health" of the Volga region and Kazakhstan.

The human potential includes more than 312 teachers, including 3 academician of NAS of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 16 academicians and corresponding member of AEN of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 13 doctors, 101 candidates of sciences and 15 doctors PhD.

The University is the only typical "student campus" in the region with well-developed infrastructure: 8 educational and laboratory buildings, 4 hostels, 2 gyms, 6 Cafe, the center of cultural leisure of youth, a historical-ethnographic museum named after Zhangir khan, veterinary clinic, sports and recreation complex «Niva» for 200 places, parking and garage zone, marching training ground, Tankord for the training of military specialists for the flotilla of the Caspian Sea, Aquaculture laboratory, center «Parasat» and etc.

The Scientific Library is the methodological center of the libraries of educational institutions of the region with a fund of more than 771 thousand units of storage and 3 reading rooms with 550 seats. Work has begun on the formation of a unified information environment for agro technical universities of the CIS countries.

The polygraphic base of the printing house with multicolor printing capabilities has been updated. Within the framework of the nationwide project "Training TV of the Republic of Kazakhstan", the own educational television studio "Parasat" has been established and is functioning. The film "Crossing Parallels" became the owner of the Grand Prix of the II All-Russia Festival of TV Films "TeleProfi" in 2007.

For the last years 72 and 44 apartment houses for teachers and employees have been put into operation, as well as the educational building of the machine-building faculty for 1000 seats, the building of the research institute and administration. A major overhaul of the complex of educational buildings was carried out and furniture, equipment was renewed, new machines and devices for laboratories were purchased. Particular attention is paid to the landscape design of the campus and visual agitation. The monument of Zhangir khan was erected (2003), the museum is open (2003), and the Alley of Pioneers (2005). The construction of new veterinary clinic is completed. The health-sports center "Niva" and a student medical center were reconstructed. A 9-storey Student House with 560 seats is open, meeting the highest international requirements for a student campus was built.

Our main "resource of development" is the high authority of the recognized "smithy" of managerial and engineering staff, the strong academic traditions, and also the "golden fund" of

talented scientists and young scientific elite known in the region who work for the benefit of the region society and state.

- in 2004, Gold Medal "For high quality in business practice" of the Board of the International Fund of the FEBR (Geneva);

- in 2006, Gold Certificate "For Promoting Global Quality" of the Council of the International Program JQP (Geneva); Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian-Technical University

- in 2008, International Award "European Quality" of the Nomination Committee of the European Business Assembly (Oxford);

- in 2008, the university signed the Taraz Declaration;

- in 2010, 14 educational programs of the university successfully passed the international accreditation;

- in 2010, the University became a full member of the Magna Charta Universitat (Bologna);

- - According to the Academic Ranking-European Standard, the university in 2013 ranked 39 among 60 universities and in 2014 it is 28th position among 54 universities (BB + category);

- in 2015 it is 28th among 54 universities (B category);

- in 2016 ranked 20th position (BB + category) among 95 universities of Republic of Kazakhstan.

- In the ranking of Webometrics, the University in 2014 is located 34th out of 112 Kazakhstan universities, and in the world rating at 9588 places;

- The University is a participant in the world ranking of universities (Quacquerelli Symonds Limited, UK);

- Based on the results of statistical ranking of economic indicators of enterprises of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2013-2014, the university took: "9" place in TOP-10 (bronze) among enterprises of the RK for the sum of seats of four types of tax; "1" place in TOP-3 (gold) among WKO enterprises by the criterion "Individual income tax";

- In 2013-2014 academic year, Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian Technical University took part in the annual national rating of universities and educational programs (EP) conducted by the agency "Independent agency for accreditation and rating (IAAR)", where 16 educational programs participated;

- In 2014-2015 academic year, the University took part in the annual national rating of universities and educational programs (EP) conducted by the agency "Independent agency for accreditation and rating (IAAR)", where 21 educational programs participated and has 11 prizes;

- 2016, the University participated in the Ranking of the university in the areas and levels (Bachelor, Master) conducted by an Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating (IAAR), according to the results published in the newspaper "Kazakhstanskaya Pravda" dated May 18, 2016 the university has 18 prizes. In comparison with the results of 2015 the number of prizes has risen (in 2015 the number of prizes – 11). In areas of training professionals University won in «Technological Science and Technology» – 10th place, in «Agricultural Science» – 3rd place, in «Veterinary Medicine» – 3rd place. Results for 2016 in areas of training professionals remained unchanged in comparison with the results of 2015.

- On May 23, 2017, the Independent Accreditation and Rating Agency (IAAR) published the results of the national rating of universities and educational programs, in which 59 Kazakhstan universities participated. The University was among the three leaders of the institutional rating in the areas of "Agricultural Sciences" and "Veterinary". Total on the basis of the ranking of educational programs for bachelor's, master's and doctoral studies in 2017 Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan agrarian - technical university won 19 prizes. In areas of training professionals University won in «Technological Science and Technology» – 6th place, in «Agricultural Science» – 9th place, in «Veterinary Medicine» – 4 th place.

- In March 2014, thе "Independent Kazakh Agency for Quality Assurance in Education" (IQAA) held a ranking of the best universities of Kazakhstan and the ranking of educational programs for specialty groups. In this rating, Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian-Technical University took the eighth place in the national ranking of the best technical universities of Kazakhstan. According to the results of the National rating, from the moment of ranking in the top three specialties in the country, such specialties as Agronomy, Soil Science and Agrochemistry, Veterinary Sanitation, Veterinary Medicine, Fisheries and Industrial Fisheries, Technology Production of livestock products, Agrarian technology and technology, Forest resources and forestry, Construction, Oil and gas business;

- In March 2015, the IQAA held a ranking of the best universities of Kazakhstan and the ranking of educational programs for specialty groups. In this rating, Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan AgrarianTechnical University took the tenth place in the national ranking of the best technical universities of Kazakhstan.

- 2016-2017, the IQAA held a ranking of the best universities of Kazakhstan and the ranking of educational programs for specialty groups. In this rating, Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian-Technical University took the tenth place in the national ranking of the best technical universities of Kazakhstan. By results of a rating of Internet resources-2015 of the Kazakhstan universities our university has taken the 41th place from 60 universities of RK.

- 2016, a rating of Internet resources of the Kazakhstan universities our university has taken the 17th place from 52 universities of RK. Indicators of this criterion consider information filling of the websites, the number of web pages, the number of documents, renewability frequency, the number of references to the website and visits, design and convenience in navigation, submission of information in three languages: Kazakh, Russian and English.